strange devotion to her, was burned into my mind. I decided to try again, this time alone. I baked Susan

it. She was wearing casual clothes today-tight jeans and a

le a little less bright th

brought some bread for Susan. I just wan

dn't move from the doorway. She was blocking my entry. "But I'm afraid it's

? What happened?" My

vaguely. "It happens. Her condit

appeared behind he

want, Sarah?"

Mom. I want to know wha

ng her by showing up unannounced. Your nervous

urses how to care for Susan, how to communicate with her, how to make her comfortable. Now, this man,

air," I said, my voic

between us. She put a hand on my arm, he

. We all are. Why don't you come back on Sunday, like you always do? We'll make sure

was suffocating. I felt a surge of anger, so pure an

car, defeated and humiliated, I heard it. A faint sou

thud, followed

und of something-or so

, I was sure I saw the curtain move. My blood ran cold. W

my phone and

out. "They wouldn't let me in. Dad was horrible, and Olivia..

onvinced him to wait, to think. A direct confrontation would only lead to them closing ranks, maybe even moving Susa

avid came home

that?"

ed in foam, was a tiny came

s like a USB charger. We'll plug it into the outlet

we get it

a scene, create a distraction. While I'm arguing with him, you go i

of that thud from Susan' s room echoed in my mind. We had

-